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General Note

"On Feb. 3, 1837 the Seminoles again attacked the post and attempted to burn the bridge crossing the Hillsborough River. They were trying to disrupt the supply route extending from Fort Brooke to Fort King (present day Ocala). The Seminoles were driven back by musket and cannon fire. This was the last action Fort Foster would see during the Second Seminole War."

"In late Jan. and early Feb. the Seminoles harassed the troops in and about the post. On Jan. 20, 1837, the Seminoles fired upon the militia volunteer camp outside of the fort in an attempt to feel out the strength of the garrison. A runner was sent to Ft. Brooke to advise the command of the attacks. One hundred fifty marines were sent to assist Lt. Leib, doubling his garrison strength."

A sign near the fort reads, "After the initial construction of the fort, Col. William S. Foster left with the bulk of the troops. Naval Lt. Thomas L. Leib remained in command of approximately fifty seamen and twenty men of the 3rd and 4th artillery regiments. Their assignment was to complete the fort and garrison it."

The Hillsborough River State Park opened in 1938 as one of Florida's first state parks. It is divided by the swiftly flowing Hillsborough River. Fort Foster is a replica of an 1837 fort from the Second Seminole War and is located on the park grounds adjacent to the river.

"Fort Foster played an important role as a garrison post to protect the river crossing and served as a base of supply for troops in the field. It was abandoned in 1838 due to illness among the troops. The fort was reactivated briefly in 1849 when it appeared the U.S. government and Seminoles would again go to war."

Credit this photo

Chicago Manual of Style

View looking over part of Fort Foster at the Hillsborough River State Park. 19--. Color slide, . State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. <https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/91261>, accessed 9 December 2016.

MLA

View looking over part of Fort Foster at the Hillsborough River State Park. 19--. Color slide. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 9 Dec. 2016.<https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/91261>.

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